look news india
New Delhi. In the modern corporate world, there is a lot of talk about work-life balance and mental health, but at the ground level, the work culture of many companies is still based on exploitation of employees and false promises. One such shocking and heart-wrenching case has come to light, where a female employee was shown the door till lunch break on the very first day of joining the job just because she questioned the conditions set during the interview. At the time of the interview, the company had promised her a normal 9-hour shift from 8 am to 5 pm, but as soon as she reached the office, the rules were unilaterally changed and she was expected to stay late into the night without any extra pay.
When the woman showed courage and raised this discrepancy with the management and spoke the truth, instead of correcting its mistake, the company dismissed her with immediate effect. The victim woman shared her ordeal on social media platforms, after which a new debate has erupted on the internet regarding the increasing ‘Toxic Work Culture’ in the corporate sector and fraud with new recruits.
According to the woman, she had given several rounds of interviews for the concerned post. During the interview process she clearly asked what the hours would be. The recruiter and hiring manager assured her in writing and verbally that it would be a scheduled shift of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, including a one-hour lunch break. The woman had accepted this offer keeping in mind her family responsibilities and commuting time.
But when she arrived at the office excited on her first day in the morning, what the team leader said during the orientation and team introductions blew her away:
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‘Nobody logs off at 5pm’: The team manager informally made it clear that the 5 o’clock shift was only on paper. All team members have to stay till 8 or 9 pm and no one can go home until the project is completed.
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Pressure of unpaid overtime: There was to be neither any overtime allowance nor any compensatory leave for extra hours worked.
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Punishment for telling the truth: When the woman remained calm and told the HR and manager, “In the interview, I was told about 8 to 5 shift and on that basis, I accepted the post. I have some personal commitments due to which I cannot stay till late night every day,” So the management became uncomfortable. He was taunted for ‘not being a team player’ and ‘not being aligned with the company’s vision’. During lunch break at 1:30 pm he was called to the HR cabin and told that the company no longer required his services.
As soon as the woman’s post went viral, thousands of working professionals reacted on forums like LinkedIn and Reddit. Many people shared similar bitter experiences:
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Dirty tricks of ‘Bait-and-Switch’: Users wrote that this has become a common strategy of many mid-sized and startup companies. Candidates are attracted by showing flexibility and fixed hours in the interview and as soon as they join, they are pressurized to work for 12-14 hours.
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Appreciation of Self-Esteem: Most professionals supported the woman’s decision and said that it was good that she came out of such a toxic environment on the very first day. Had she been compromised, her mental and physical health would have been affected for the next several months.
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Ignoring labor laws: Under India’s Factories Act and Shops and Establishment Act, there is a rule for mandatory overtime payment for work done for more than 8 to 9 hours. But these laws are openly flouted in the service sector and white-collar jobs.
This incident has alerted lakhs of youth who are looking for new jobs. Before joining any company, you must pay attention to these red flags:
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Shift timing not being clear in job offer letter: If the working hours are not clearly mentioned in the offer letter and only says “As per business requirements”, seek written clarification from HR.
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Reviews from former employees on Glassdoor and LinkedIn: Before joining a company, check the feedback of past employees to see if the working hours are respected in the company.
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Mughalta of ‘We’re Like a Family’: Often companies that present themselves like a ‘family’ do not respect the boundaries of personal life of employees and impose excessive workload in the name of dedication.
The woman wrote at the end of her post that even though losing her job by lunch would mean financial uncertainty for some time, she has no regrets about not compromising at the cost of her self-respect and mental peace. This incident shows that the new generation of professionals are no longer willing to work in inhumane conditions just for the sake of salary.